Masturbation
Masturbation: the primary sexual activity of mankind. In the nineteenth century it was a disease; in the twentieth, it's a cure — Thomas Szasz
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The Science of Masturbation
In the 1950s, people were told that masturbation could cause blindness, fatigue, and disease, sapping a man’s strength and turning him feeble-minded. John Kellogg and Sylvester Graham even developed their eponymous corn flakes and crackers in the 19th century as part of a bland diet to reduce men’s sex drives and discourage them from masturbating.
Today, we recognize these claims as an absurd campaign stemming from moral judgments rather than legitimate health risks. And yet, movements opposing masturbation persist, most notably with the “NoFap” community. (Fap is a British slang term for male masturbation.) This latest trend has risen out of concerns around the easy accessibility…
Resources
Masturbation Has Evolved For the Better
Nearly everyone does it, but we still don't know exactly why masturbation exists. Could rubbing one out have an adaptive function or it is simply a lucky byproduct of natural selection? Research on why and how monkeys get themselves off is helping scientists zero in on answers—and remove the stigma around one of our most beloved activities at the same time.
The Ooohs, Ahhhs and Nah-Nahs of Masturbation...
Masturbation, especially female masturbation, has been looked down upon for eons. Placing it in cultural context, it’s been considered unholy, taboo or an act of sin. It is probably what causes the prying neighbourhood aunties to have nightmares!
Touch & Pleasure Are Essential: Here's How To Give Them To Yourself
Celebrating our bodies, and the pleasure they can give us, can be the starting point for an extraordinary relationship with ourselves and the world.
Happy news! Masturbation actually has health benefits
According to a nationally representative US sample, 94% of men admit to masturbating, as do 85% of women. But societal perspectives of masturbation still vary greatly, and there’s even some stigma around engaging in the act. Related to this stigma are the many myths about masturbation, myths so ridiculous it’s a wonder anyone believes them. They include: masturbation causes blindness and insanity; masturbation can make sexual organs fall off; and masturbation causes infertility. In actual fact, masturbation has many health benefits.
How Natural Is Masturbation?
I speak only for males here but Shaw was certainly right in saying that 99 percent of men masturbate and 1 percent are liars. I once caused a little stir at Notre Dame by pointing out that every priest in the audience was masturbator, as of course they all were. The natural cause of this is obvious: the male body produces far, far, far, far more sperm than can ever possibly become babies.
How to Address the Masturbating Child
The specter of masturbation had long haunted the authorities. For centuries, it had been linked to mental illness at worst and a sort of general dissipation at best.
Why Is Children’s Masturbation Such a Secret?
Parents and children have questions, but there is surprisingly little guidance available in the pediatric literature.
Go ahead, touch yourself: eight things to know for masturbation month
Adults who are 25-29 years old are the most likely to have masturbated at least once in their lives – but those numbers do not necessarily tell the whole story.
Compulsive Masturbation: The Secret Sexual Disorder
Compulsive masturbators, both men and women, utilize sexual self-stimulation as a means of self-soothing and avoiding uncomfortable feelings. Most of these individuals struggle with underlying emotional or psychological issues such as early-life or profound adult emotional trauma, anxiety, low self-esteem, poor social skills and depression.
Happy news! Masturbation actually has health benefits
From a sexual health point of view, masturbation is one of the safest sexual behaviours. There’s no risk of pregnancy or transmission of sexually transmitted infections; there’s no risk of disappointing a partner or of performance anxiety; and there’s no emotional baggage.
Masturbation Is at the Root of the Culture Wars
"Tell me how you really feel about masturbation, and I can more or less predict how you'll feel about the more frequently debated 'sex war' issues."
The Guide to Masturbation
As depicted in Salvador Dali’s “The Great Masturbator”, masturbation is a fascinating and complex topic that affects each of us differently. Despite almost universal agreement by medical doctors that masturbation is a normal, safe, and common practice, masturbation continues to be associated with embarrassment, shame, and guilt, primarily due to societal perceptions of the act.
We Need to Talk About Masturbation, Says the Former Surgeon General—Here’s How to Do It With Every Person in Your Life
"Be open with your partner about when and why you masturbate and how it’s not a substitution for them." —Sadie Allison, PhD, sexologist
The Science of Masturbation
In the 1950s, people were told that masturbation could cause blindness, fatigue, and disease, sapping a man’s strength and turning him feeble-minded. John Kellogg and Sylvester Graham even developed their eponymous corn flakes and crackers in the 19th century as part of a bland diet to reduce men’s sex drives and discourage them from masturbating.
7 common misconceptions about masturbation
For as long as people have been masturbating, there have been misconceptions surrounding the act. Thankfully, most of the assumptions held about self-pleasure (no, it won't kill you — and no, it's nothing to be ashamed about) have been debunked over the years.
8 Things You Need To Know About Masturbation
Despite the fact that it is all totally normal, there is still a huge taboo around the subject and many myths that we need to get *ahem* cleaned up.
National Masturbation Month
After a speech at the United Nations World AIDS Day, an audience member asked U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders about masturbation’s potential for discouraging early sexual activity. She answered, “I think it is something that is part of human sexuality and a part of something that perhaps should be taught.” Days later she was fired for her comment. Launched in 1995 in honour of Elders’ work, National Masturbation Month provides a unique opportunity to get people talking about a self love and encourage conversations about sexual wellness.
NHS
There are many bizarre claims about masturbation, for example that it causes blindness, insanity, acne and even hair growth. We sort fact from myth and answer your questions on what is arguably one of the most commonly practised sexual activities on the planet.
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